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These homemade girl scout cookies samoas bars are the perfect cookie substitute. So simple to make and packed full of coconut, caramel and chocolate flavor.
I love love love love girl scout cookies. I swear. I could eat a box at a time. I probably shouldn’t admit to that….
Anyway, now that we have established that I love girl scout cookies I’m also betting that there are others out there who love them as much as I do. My favorite one of their cookies is hands down the Samoas. They have such a delicious crunchy bottom topped with a chewy coconut topping. Plus not to mention the addition of chocolate…yum!
I have been eying Baking Bites homemade samoas bars recipe for over a year. I’m not sure why it took me so long to make these gems but I finally got around to it yesterday. Amazing. Horribly amazing. The reason I say “horribly” is because all I wanted to do was eat them last night. I had to stop myself at two and boxed the rest up for Mr.NN to take to work. I was not going to be left home with all those bars today….it would not have been good….
Homemade Samoas Bars
Ingredients
For Cookie Base:
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
For Topping:
- 3 cups shredded sweetened coconut
- 12 ounces chewy caramels, unwrapped
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 tablespoons whole milk
- 10 ounces dark chocolate chips
Instructions
For cookie crust:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream together sugar and butter, until fluffy.
- Beat in egg and vanilla extract.
- Working at a low speed, gradually beat in flour and salt until the mixture is crumbly, like wet sand. The dough does not need to come together.
- Pour crumbly dough into the prepared pan and press into an even layer.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the base, is set and the edges are lightly browned.
- Cool completely on a wire rack before topping.
For topping:
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
- Spread coconut evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet (preferably one with sides) and toast for 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes, until the coconut is golden.
- Cool on the baking sheet, stirring occasionally. Set aside.
- Unwrap the caramels and place them in a large microwave-safe bowl with milk and salt.
- Cook on high for 3-4 minutes, stopping to stir a few times to help the caramel melt.
- When smooth, fold in toasted coconut with a spatula.
- Put dollops of the topping all over the shortbread base.
- Using the spatula, spread the topping into an even layer. Let topping set until cooled.
- When cooled, cut into 30 bars with a large knife or a pizza cutter (it’s easy to get it through the topping).
- Once the bars are cut, melt the chocolate in a small bowl. Heat on high in the microwave in 45-second intervals, stirring thoroughly to prevent scorching.
- Dip the base of each bar into the chocolate and place it on a clean piece of parchment or wax paper.
- Transfer all remaining chocolate (or melt a bit of additional chocolate, if necessary) into a piping bag or a Ziploc bag with the corner snipped off and drizzle bars with chocolate to finish.
- Let the chocolate set completely before storing it in an airtight container.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Oh my God. I’m going to replace the chocolate with PB and get so fat.
These look incredibly addicting and definitely hard to stop eating! Can’t wait to make them!
Totally decadent, I have never heard of these but I would love to try them!
Now this is what I’m talkin about =) Samoas are by far my fave girl scout cookie! I am definitely bookmarking this one! Thanks!!
My kids loves these as much as the real deal.
Mimi
GORGEOUS! I think these look better than the cookies. We ordered a few boxes of GS cookies this year- I can’t say no to adorable little girls.
I never can resist Girl Scout cookies either. Samoas are one of my favorites! These look fantastic! 😉
So funny… I just came across this recipe today! It looks so amazing… I was a girl scout for years, and still have a special place in my heart for samoas!
these look perfect – now make the chocolate mint cookies and tell me where to meet you….I can get to inwood if you like.
the price is right for these, that’s for sure! plus, i tend to like bars better than cookies anyway–you can cut whatever size you want at the time! 🙂